CHTHONIUS ( CHTHONIUS ) TORAKENSIS AND CHTHONIUS ( EPHIPPIOCHTHONIUS ) CIKOLAE , TWO NEW SPECIES OF PSUDOSCORPIONS ( CHTHONIIDAE ) FROM CROATIA

Two new species of endemic and relict epigean dwellers of the genus Chthonius C. L. Koch, have been described from Croatia. From its phenetically close congeners (C. litoralis Hadži and C. dalmatinus Hadži), Chthonius (Chthonius) torakensis n. sp. is distinguished in many important respects. In addition, Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) cikolae n. sp. (also from Croatia) differs from its closest forms (C. (E.) lychidis Ćurčić and C. (E.) tetrachelatus (Preyssler) by many morphological characters and form of different body parts. Both species are illustrated, diagnosed and thoroughly described.


INTRODUCTION
Speciation of the genus Chthonius C. L. Koch in Croatia has not been studied in great detail (Ćurčić 1988; Ćurčić et al., 2004).Only in several cases we have exact data on niche preferences that are prarequisities for evolutionary studies (Beier, 1939;Ćurčić et al., 1997, 1998).It sholud emphasized that a limited members of Croatian Chthonius speceis are known to date (Ćurčić et al., 2004).However, preliminary analysis of material collected in our three decade work in the field points to high variability of the genus, since at least 35 species new to science still await names and diagnoses.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The specimens of the pseudoscorpion Chthonius (C.) torakensis n. sp., analyzed in the present paper, were mounted on slides in Swan's fluid (gum chloral medium) and are deposited in the collection of the Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia (IZB 2010-2).In addition, C. (Ephippiochthonius) cikolae n. sp.have been prepared in the same way (IZB 2010 3/4).Beier (1939) Specimens examined -Holotype male from near Lake Torak by the Čikola River, epigean; 11 April 2009.Croatia; collected by Tonći Rađa.

Setal designations follow
Description -Carapace as long as broad (Table 1).
Galea inconspicious (Fig. 3).Cheliceral palm with 8 setae (or with 6 setae and two additional small setas, movable finger with one seta).Flagellum of 9 blades (consisting of one small blade and eight blades twice its length, more or less in pairs distally).
Trichobotrichial disposition is illustrated in Fig. 1 and 2.
Linear measurements and morphometric ratios are presented in Table 1.
Cheliceral spinneret (galea) in the form of a small sclerotic tubercule (Fig. 11).Cheliceral palm with 5 or 6 longer setae and 2 microsetae (Fig. 11), movable finger with one seta.Cheliceral dentition as in Fig. 11.Galeal seta inserted basal to the great tooth of the movable chelal finger.Flagellum of 9 blades, one small blade proximally and 8 blades twice this length, more or less in pairs, distally.The most distal members of the sereis are curved but all, to some extent, are pinnate on both sides.
which diminish and become close-set both distally and proximally (Fig. 9).Cheliceral finger longer then chelal palm and pedipalpal finger is longer then chelal finger (Table 1).
Coxa II bears 6 -7 spines and coxa III has 4 spines which are elongate and finely pinnate on two sides.Tibia IV, metatarsus IV and tarsus IV each with a long tactile seta (Fig. 15; Table 1).

Differential diagnosis.
The new species is easily distingushed from its phenetically close congeners C.(E.) lychnidis Ćurčić and C. (E.) tetrachelatus (Preyssler) in a great number of morphological traits, as well as in many linear measurements and morphometric ratios; these are presented in Table 2 by bold numbers.

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The discovery of the described representatives of Chthonius (Chthonius) and Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) from Croatia supports the fact that the taxonomy of this genus is still far from being complete (Ćurčić et al., 2004).The variety of cave dwelling and epigean species of Chthonius described elswhere by Ćurčić et al. (1988, 2004) offers further proof that this genus is presently subjected to intensive radiation or divergent differentiation into new species, particularly in the Dinaric Karst as a center of origin and genesis of members form of the genus.

Table 2 )
Etymology -After the River Čikola, Croatia, on which bank the new epigean species was found.Species examined -Holotype female, and paratype female from the bank of the River Čikola, Dalmatia, Croatia; 11 April 2009, collected by Tonći Rađa, together with the holotype male of C. (C.) torakensis n. sp.